Beating Press Coverage With Technique

By Will Cinelli, The Scouting Academy

Each Thursday here on the FirstDown PlayBook Coaches Community website we will feature a breakdown of personnel and technique. This is provided by our friends over at The Scouting Academy who are our go to experts in this field!

Dealing with Press, especially from Defensive Backs who have technique, athletic ability, and strength is a tremendous challenge. Wide Receivers often get taken off their stem, throwing off landmarks and timing and bringing defenders into the picture that we would rather not be involved.

In this clip, Chris Godwin works an inside release vs a top NFL Cornerback who works to compress him hard into the hash, bringing him right into the Linebacker’s. Godwin does an excellent job of fighting that pressure and continuing to push his route vertically.

After he expands the Corner, he opens up a window for the curl and does an excellent job of using his upper body and lower body at the same time. He also does all of this a he is dropping his hips and working back to the Quarterback..

He does not stop there. He quickly turns upfield after the catch to ensure a few more yards after the catch!